Initialing device



March 24, 1936.

F. L. DoLAN 2,035,149

- INITIALING DEVICE Filed March 19, 1954 INVENTOR.

A TT ORNE YS.

Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE of Rhode Island Application March 19, 1934, serial No. '716,384-

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for placing initials or other insignia upon some small article, such as an identication tag to be worn on the Wrist; and has for one of its objects the provision of a construction which will enable a plurality of insignia to be placed in a certain denite relation upon the article to be marked with ease and rapidity by a stamping operation and thus avoid the necessity of engraving by hand, which is the practice in the majority of instances to-day where a plurality of different initials are used on an identification tag or other article.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device composed of parts which may be easily and quickly assembled or interchanged should one become broken or damaged.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for positively and securely holding the Work in a definitely xed position so that the stamping elements may be denitely related thereto.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a support for the work of a curved nature, and a guide for the stamping elements to cause them to engage the work in a direction radial tothe arc of the surface which they contact.

A further object of the invention is the provision of guiding means which will positively relate and properly space the plurality of initials or insignia which are to be impressed upon the work.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In' the accompanying drawing:

Fig.- 1 is a perspective view of the device illustrating the Work in position and three stamping initials as placed in their respective guides for impressing insignia upon the work.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View thereof j Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base of the device;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the standard;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the plate for closing the guide slots of the stamping members;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the anvil;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the work guide, which is placed on the anvil;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the assembly of the structures of Figures 6 and 7;

Fig. 9' i-s a perspective view of one of the stamping members;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the work after being stamped.

At the present time, there is a demand for what is known as an identication bracelet or tag, consisting of a plate which is attached to some part, usually a chain and more often a bracelet chain or band which encircles the wrist. p

This identification plate is usually marked with identification tag may be tted and securely held with guides for directing the stamping members toward the tag so that with the blow of a hammer upon one or more of these members the desiredV insignia may be placed on the identification tag quickly and by unskilled labor; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of the invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished: n

With reference to the drawing., lll designates the base of my device upon which there is mounted a standard l l held in position- Vby a bolt i4 extending through a hole I5 in the base and into the threaded opening IB in the standard and held against turning bydowels'or pins l2 extending into the openings I3 in the base. There is also mounted upon the base an anvil I1 also secured in position by a bolt 20 extending throughthe opening 2| in the base and into the threaded hole 22 in the anvil and held against turningk by the dowel pins 8 extending into the openings I9 in the base. This anvil is fitted so that it contacts with the vertical surface 23 of the standard. The

standard is provided with an overhanging portion 2,4, to extend out -over the anvil andy in this pory.. tion I have provided a groove or slot 25 inthe held in position by screws 29 extending into this upright overhanging portion.

'Ihe top engaging surface 30 of the anvil is curved to conform to the curvature of the identication tag or plate 3| which it is adapted to receive, and in order that the tag or plate 3| may be positioned definitely in aV certain position, I have provided all-shaped guide member 32 having an opening 33 of a size to closely it the plate or tag 3| and locate it in the' desired relation to the anvil, this plate being mounted on the anvil by screws 34 tapped into the anvil on either side thereof. The identification tag 3| usually has attached to it links 35 extending through the slots 36 at either end thereof, and.A in order to accommodate this portion which is connected to the plate sothat it need not be detached, I have cut away the anvil, as at 31, and provided a similar cut-out portion 38 on the guide member 32 to receive it, thus it is a simple matter to position the tag 3l in place on the anvil and cause it to have a firm seat thereon.

The stamping members are designated 40, each consisting of a right angular bar with an insignia, usually an initial 4l, formed on the end thereof of hardened metal, and in order that this stamping member may be directed in the proper position towards the curved surface of the plate which it is to inscribe, I have caused the slots 25, 26, and 21 to be arranged radially to the surface at the point of engagement, and thus these slots will be seen to converge at their lower ends.

In using the device, should I desire to place but a singleinsignia, such as a letter on the identification plate, the middle slot 25 will be used, the member 40 will be struck the proper blow with a hammer, and the letter will be placed directly in the middle of the plate. Should two characters be desired to be placed in position, the two slots 26 and 21 will be used and the characters Will be symmetrically positioned Von the plate. If desired, I may also have some fancy scroll work between two such letters by use of a stamping member in the slot 25, or this may be left blank. While if three initials are to be used, all three slots will be used for directing the selected stamping members desired. In order to impress the stamping member upon the plates, it is necessary to strike the end of the stamping member with a hammer to force the character into the plate and cause the impression to be left therein.

By the screws and bolts which I use to assemble the different parts, it is a vry simple matter to interchange these parts should one become damaged or worn, as well as a simple matter to assemble the parts in the first instance.

I some cases I may desire to mount the base I0 on a bench or larger supporting board, Vwhich I have illustrated at 43, to accomplish Which I have placed dowels 44 in the recesses 45 in the base I0 to t into opening 46 in the board 43. A smaller bore 41 is also provided to drive out these dowels When desired.

The foregoing description'is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a marking device, a base, a standard rising therefrom and overhanging a portion thereof, an anvil above said base, and a plurality of fixed guides provided in the overhanging portion of said standard for directing insignia members in converging relation towards said anvil to engage the anvil at different points. Y 2. .In a marking device, a base, a standard rising therefrom, an anvil above said base, means on the anvil providing a recess for receiving and positioning the Work, and means provided on the standard for directing a plurality of insignia members towards the work in a converging relation to engage therewith at different points.

3. In a marking device, a base, a standard rising therefrom and overhanging a portion thereof, said overhanging portion being provided with a plurality of different guide grooves for the reception of members each carrying an insignia, a retaining plate across said grooves, and an anvil beneath said guides.

4. In a marking device, a base, a curved anvil, and a U-shaped work guide straddling said anvil and curved to conform to the shape of the anvil and provided with a recess to receive said work.

5. In a marking device, a base, an anvil, and an apertured U-shaped work guide straddling said anvil and said aperture permitting the work to rest on the anvil and be held in position by the walls of said aperture.

6. In a marking device, a base member, a standard member rising therefrom, and a detachable anvil secured to one of said members said standard member being provided with a plurality of different and separate guides converging toward said anvil for the reception of insignia carrying members.

7. In a marking device, a base, an anvil detachably mounted thereon, a guide standard also detachably mounted on the base and in contact With said anvil, means to position markers in a definite relation to said standard, and means to p-osition the Workvon said anvil and in a definite relation to said standard.

8. In a marking device, a base, a standard rising from the base having an integral head portion overhanging the base, an anvil above the base having a curved supporting surface, said integral head portion provided with a plurality of guide grooves in said head portion, a plurality of stamping members in said grooves with their ends eX- tending upwar-dly beyond the head portion for the reception of a hammer blow'whereby they may be operated either simultaneously or successively, said stamping members being-directed by said grooves radially of said curved supporting surface to contact therewith at spaced points therealong.

9. In a portable hand operated character stamping device, a base, a standard rising therefrom, an anvil above said base providing a curved engaging surface on an arc about a horizontal axis, a plurality of stamping members having characters thereon, said standard providing guides `for directing said stamping members radial to the curvature of the surface of the anvil at the point of Contact of the members with said surface, and said members being independently movable with reference to the work.

10. In a portable hand operated character stamping device, a base, a standard rising therefrom, an anvil above said base providing a smooth curved engaging surface on an arc about a horizontal axis, a plurality of stamping members having characters thereon, said standard providing guides for directing said stamping members radial to the curvature of the surface of the anvil at the point of contact of the members with said surface, said stamping members being generally vertically arranged and the radial lines through the centers of the most Vdistant of sai-d plurality of members defining a generally vertical sector of less than and said members being selectively individually movable to impress the work.

FREDERICK L. DOLAN. 

